New Research on Psychosocial Intervention in Paediatric Eczema

Whilst non-pharmacological interventions are central to social work and allied health support for children living with eczema, the effectiveness of psychosocial care has traditionally been evaluated primarily through self-report and caregiver-report measures.

These outcomes are essential for understanding lived experience, but reliance on subjective indicators alone has limited the field’s ability to demonstrate measurable biological impact. This study advances a more rigorous and interdisciplinary approach by integrating inflammatory biomarkers into the evaluation of a psychosocial intervention.

The study evaluated the Integrative Body-Mind-Spirit (IBMS) model, a theory-driven framework developed over two decades of social work research. Grounded in both Eastern perspectives on balance and connectedness and Western evidence-based therapeutic principles, IBMS emphasises emotional regulation, somatic awareness, meaning-making, and social support as interconnected dimensions of health. In a randomised, waitlist-controlled trial conducted in Hong Kong, 141 parent-child dyads affected by atopic dermatitis were assigned to a six-week IBMS psychosocial group intervention or a waitlist control. The program incorporated mindfulness-based relaxation, guided imagery, storytelling, expressive arts, and peer support to strengthen resilience and body-mind integration.

Alongside validated measures of eczema severity and quality of life, the study involved collecting blood samples at baseline and post-intervention to assess inflammatory cytokines and cytokine balance indicators central to immune dysregulation in eczema. Children who participated in IBMS demonstrated significant improvements in symptom severity and quality of life, together with reductions in key pro-inflammatory cytokines and favourable shifts in cytokine balance. The inclusion of biomarkers as efficacy outcomes represents more than methodological innovation. It positions IBMS as a biologically informed psychosocial model and strengthens the scientific credibility of integrative social work practice.

By examining whether improvements in emotional wellbeing are accompanied by measurable changes in immune function, this study finds that social work interventions can influence physiological processes. This research expands the evidentiary framework of the profession and supports the future development of interdisciplinary, biopsychosocial models of care for children living with chronic inflammatory conditions.